Retractable signal support



DeC 20, 1966 H. c. PFAFF, JR.. ETAL 3,292,322

RETRACTABLE SIGNAL SUPPORT Filed Feb. 4, 1964 :3 Sheets-Sheet l H. c. PFAFFJ JR- F. G. SCHLOSSER BY l ATTORNEY Dec. 20, 1966 H. c. PFAFF, JR.. ETAL RETRACTABLE SIGNAL SUPPORT 5 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Feb. 4, 1964 FIG. 3v

IIIIII F. G. SCHLOSSER ATTOR N EY DCC- 20, 1966 H. c. PFAFF, JR., ETAL 3,292,322

RETRACTABLE SIGNAL SUPPORT Filed Feb. 4, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS c. PFAF F J JR. G. SCHLOSSER BY' v n/m/g/ AT TOR NEY United States Patent O 3,292,322 RETRACTABLE SIGNAL SUPPORT Henry C. Pfaff, Jr., Summit, and Francis G. Schlosser, Ridgefield Park, NJ., assignors to Pfaff and Kendall, Elizabeth, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Feb. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 342,428 3 Claims. (Cl. 52-122) This invention relates to a retractable signal support for disposing light, radio or other sensed media at varying heights relative to a fixed support, by the controlled extension of an elognated signal support shaft movably positioned in a base section of the device.

Pursuant to the invention, novel means are provided for stabilizing the signal support shaft in the base section and for assuring the smooth, supported movement thereof relative to the base section; the signal supportshaft may be latched at an outer position relative to the base section and readily disengaged therefrom when desired and may be readily retracted partially or fully within the base section for maintenance or other purposes.

The drawings, illustrating procedures and devices useful in carrying out the invention, and the description ibelow, are exemplary only of the invention, which shall be deemed to cover all other devices and procedures coming within the scope and purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a horizontal partly fragmentary, elevational view of a retractable signal support embodying the invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational partly fragmentary, view of the elongated shaft,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational, partly sectional view of the upper end of the base section, the lower end of the elongated shaft as shown in full lines befng latched and in its upper position, `and being shown in dotted lines retracted,

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of la cable means which may be used for movement of the elongated shaft in the base secti-on,

FIG. 5 is a similar view of a gear means for movement of the shaft, and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a section of the ladder side of the base section, showing a safety rail means which may be used by one climbing the ladder.

As shown in the drawings, the device of this invention comprises a retractable signal support having a base section 10 to be secured at one end to a supporting surface 11 Iby any suitable means `and extending upwardly therefrom.

A first brace plate 12 is secured to the base section transversely thereof by any suitable means, such as by welding the same thereto (as at 13, FIG. 3), said brace plate having an opening therein (FIG. 4) to slidably receive an elongated signal support shaft 15 carrying signal generating, reflecting sensed or other media such as batteries of lights 16. Means are provided for controlled movement of the shaft through the brace plate opening toward or to its uppermost position (full lines, FIG. 3) to thereby dispose the signal means 16 beyond the upper end of the base section 10 or to retract the shaft 15 as indicated in dotted lines (FIGS. 3 and l). The FIG. l dotted line showing may represent a fully retracted position of the signal support shaft.

Thus the support Shaft may be fully retracted within the base section, as, for example, to repair or replace parts safely and without the necessity for use of special equipment. The elongated shaft 15 may be retracted, for example, during periods of non-use of the signal unit 16, thereby reducing stresses and strains on the parts.

3,292,322 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 ICC In FIG. 4 by way of example, a pulley means 17 cooperating with cables 18, 19 is shown for movement of the elongated shaft 15 through the brace plate opening; it will be appreciated from the disclosure herein that other actuating means may be utilized. As shown in FIG. 4 the pulley and cable means comprise pulleys 17 rotatably mounted on a second brace plate 40, and cable 18, 19 entrained over the pulleys Iand fixed at one end to the lower end of elongated shaft 15 or preferably to a foot 20 secured to and defining the lower end of the elongated shaft 15. The other ends of the cables 18, 19 are entrained over actuator pulleys 21, 22 which may be conveniently housed in ratchet housings 23 (FIG. l) fixed t-o the base section 10 and controlled as by use of ratchet setting knobs 24 set so that the pulleys may have ratchet controlled clockwise or counterclockwise rotation as desired. The ratchet means just described may comprise any suitable means known in the art. Foot 20 at the lower end of shaft 15 may 'be provided with means such as pins or bolts 25 (FIG. 3) passing through openings 26 in the brace plate 12 when the shaft 15 is uppermost, the foot 20 then abutting the first brace plate and the pins registering with the openings 26 of the first brace plate and aligning and further stabilizing the parts, for further registration and stability. The pins 25 may be engaged by nuts or other means 27 to thereby lock the shaft 15 in its uppermost, FIG. 3, position until it is desired to lower the same, as indicated in dotted lines, whereupon it is only necessary to remove the latching nuts 27 and lower the shaft 15 by appropriate rotation of pulleys 21, 22 which may be conveniently provided with operating handles or levers 28 (FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of cables 18, 19 are secured at one end to the foot 20 symmetrically with respect to the axis of shaft 15 to avoid binding action of the shaft during its movement and at their opposite ends to pulleys 21, 22 entrained over pulleys 17. The latter are shown in FIG. 4 arranged in tandem for each cable. The number of pulleys 17 for each cable may be increased or decreased as desired. Also, as shown in said ligure, the cables pass through apertures in the brace plates and return along the sides of the base section 10 outwardly of the brace plates. This arrangement may be altered if desired. The base section 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 may have a maintenance platform 55 at its top and may be formed at one side thereof as a ladder 30 and a safety rail 31 (FIG. 6) or other safety features may be incorporated in the ladder. In the FIG. 6 example, of one of many forms of safety features which may be incorporated in such ladder, the rail 31 cooperates with a safety sleeve 32 which may be of the form shown, for example in Patents 2,538,904, 2,616,609, or of other form known in the art or adaptable to for such use; the safety sleeve 32 is'engaged by safety belt 33, worn by the user, the arrangement being such as to enable movement of the safety sleeve 32 on the rail 31 only while the wearers Abody is disposed in its normal position close to the ladder and locking on the rail if the user slips and his body moves away from the rail.

Brace plate 12 may be provided with a collar 38 (FIG. 3) fixed thereto in line with a central opening in lthe brace plate, the collar 38 being disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base section 10 and proportioned to slidably receive the elongated signal support shaft 15. The latter may have the upper end section thereof proportioned to be snugly received in the collar 38 on registration therewith as shown in FIG. 3. As shown in said ligure, collar 38 may be provided with an inner liner sleeve 39 which may be of plastic material such as Teflon (tetrauoroethylene) to enhance a smooth sliding contact of the signal shaft 15 therein.

The second brace plate 40 (FIGS. 4 and 5) may be 3 secured to the base section in parallel relation to the first brace plate 12, the collar 38 being'also fixed thereto (FIG. 3), providing further stability and further reinforcement of the assembly.

Other means for elevating and lowering the elongated shaft may be used; as exemplan'ly shown in FIG. 5; such means may comprise a rack 50 carried by the sides of the base Isection 10 and a pinion 51 meshing with said rack and keyed to the armature shaft of motor 52 which is fixed to the base of the signal support shaft 15. The motor may be energized through a cable 53 connected to a switch 54, which may be conveniently mounted on the base section 10. The cable 53 may be of the coiled, expanding type, if desired, as shown in FIG. 5.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A retractable signal support comprising a base section to be secured at one end to a supporting surface and extending upwardly therefrom, a first brace plate remote from the lower end of the base section and secured to the base section, said first plate having an opening therein, an elongated support shaft which, above the plate, carries a signal, said support shaft being movably positioned in the opening of said first plate, a second brace plate secured to the base section below said first plate and provided with an opening therein aligned with the opening in the first plate, a collar having an inner liner sleeve of plastic material, said collar being aixed to the plates in alignment with the openings therein, and shaft shifting means comprising a cable means engaging a portion movable with the shaft and extending about the first plate and thence to the bottom of the base section for controlled displacement of the shaft through said openings to thereby shift said signal with respect to the base section.

other ends being attached to a part of the base section.

2. A retractable signal support comprising a base section to be secured at one end to a supporting surface and extending upwardly therefrom, a brace plate remote from 3. A retractable signal supportcomprising a base section to be secured at one end to a supporting `surface and extending upwardly therefrom, a first brace plate remote from the lower end of the base section and secured to the base section, said first plate having an opening therein, an elongated support shaft which, above the plate, carriesy a signal, said support shaft being movably positioned in the opening of said first plate, a second brace plate secured to the base section below said first plate and provided with an opening therein aligned with the opening in the first plate, said shaft being provided with a foot provided with means for fastening together said foot and said second plate to retain the shaft in extended position 1 with relation to the base section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 37,207 12/1862 Welham 52-123 297,332 4/1884 Adams 52-121 799,220 9/ 1905 Booz et al. 52--121 2,796,229 6/ 1957 Freeman 52-111 FOREIGN PATENTS 449,789 3/ 1903 France. 213,087 3/ 1924 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

J. K. BELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A RETRACTABLE SIGNAL SUPPORT COMPRISING A BASE SECTION TO BE SECURED AT ONE END TO A SUPPORTING SURFACE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, A FIRST BRACE PLATE REMOTE FROM THE LOWER END OF THE BASE SECTION AND SECURED TO THE BASE SECTION, SAID FIRST PLATE HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, AN ELONGATED SUPPORT SHAFT WHICH, ABOVE THE PLATE, CARRIES A SIGNAL, SAID SUPPORT SHAFT BEING MOVABLY POSITIONED IN THE OPENING OF SAID FIRST PLATE, A SECOND BRACE PLATE SECURED TO THE BASE SECTION BELOW SAID FIRST PLATE AND PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING THEREIN ALIGNED WITH THE OPENING IN THE FIRST PLATE, A COLLAR HAVING AN INNER LINER SLEEVE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL, SAID COLLAR BEING AFFIXED TO THE PLATES IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE OPENINGS THEREIN, AND SHAFT SHIFTING MEANS COMPRISING A CABLE MEANS ENGAGING A PORTION MOVABLE WITH THE SHAFT AND EXTENDING ABOUT THE FIRST PLATE AND THENCE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BASE SECTION FOR CONTROLLED DISPLACEMENT OF THE SHAFT THROUGH SAID OPENINGS TO THEREBY SHIFT SAID SIGNAL WITH RESPECT TO THE BASE SECTION. 